Device for forming and storing solid carbon dioxide



Feb. 2, 1932. D. A. MARCUS ET AL 1,843,397

DEVICE FOR FORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed June 18, 1928s Sheets- Sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1932. D. A. MARCUS ET AL 3 5 DEVICE FORFORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed June 18, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 2 W2 23 Z9 Z6 00140 6- Morcwa,

Feb. 2, 1932. [3 cus ET L 1,843,397

DEVICE FOR FORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed June 18, 19285 Sheets-Sheet 3- NH '1)! M 11 1 ut 1 Hi Hal.

40 h 00w? (4 Ma a/J. 4/ I f p /a/rer 14/," Oqr/r- MK HTTO/Q/VEIYPatented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES ,PA'TENT OFFICE DAVID A. MARCUS ANDWALTER W. OGIER, JR., OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO NU-ICECOMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION Oil's"v NEVADA KDEVICE FOR FORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Application filedJune 18,

Our invention relates to a device for forming and storing carbon-dioxidesnow.

One of the foremost objects of the invention is to provide a device inwhich the rate of production of the carbon-dioxide snow will be highcompared to other devices for this purpose, and in which the efliciencyof the device will also be high compared to other devices of thisnature.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter, in which the carbon-dioxide snow, which is formed, may betransferred from the snow-chamber to a contiguous storage-chamber, withthe result that the snow-chamber is not used as a storage-chamber, butmay be continuously used for making batches of carbon-dioxide snow. Inour invention it is not necessary to shut down the snow-formingoperations when the snow already formed is being taken from the device.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a device for formingand storing carbondioxide snow in which it is impossible for air to getinto the system. The advantage of this object is that the efliciency ofthe apparatus may be maintained. In those types of devices in which thesnow-chamber in which the snow is formed, is opened to the atmosphere,the snow-chamber will fill with air, and this air will get into thecarbon-dioxide piping. This air gradually accumulates, and it isfrequently necessary to clean out the system. In our invention suchcleaning requirements are unnecessary because the air is fully excludedfrom the snow chamber and carbon-dioxide piping.

It is another object of our invention to provide a device in which thesnow-chamber is above the storage-chamber, and is separated from thestorage-chamber by a door, which door is opened to drop the snow fromthe snow-chamber into the storage-chamber.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device inwhich the snow-chamber and storage-chamber are designed so that anexcessive pressure cannot exist in the storage-chamber. This object ofthe invention is accomplished by providing the snow-chamber with a verytight closure to exclude leak- 1928. Serial No. 286,351.

age, and by providing the storage-chamber with a closure which will leakwhen a pressure occurs in the storage chamber.

A further object of our invention is to provide an efficientinsulation-means for the snow-chamber.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a snow-chamberdoor for the snowchamber, which may be readily adjusted to maintain atight seal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in thefollowing description.

Referring to the drawings in which our invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional View.

Fig. 2 is a View partly in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the separating-meansof the invention for preventing solids from passing from thesnow-chamber through the outlet-means of the invention.

, Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing the pivot for the snow-chamberdoor of our invention.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 11 represents a shellwhich provides a snow-chamber 12 of the invention. The shell 11 ispyramidal in shape, for the purpose of preventing clogging. The shell 11is supported inside a housing 13 by means of a support-plate 14. Thissupport-plate 14 is attached to a rectangular flange 16 of the housing'13 by suitable bolts 17 The lower end of the snow-chamber 12 is open,and thus includes a snoW-chamber-opening' 18.

The upper end of the shell 11 is open, and is provided with theseparating-means of the invention in the form of a screen 21. Thisscreen 21 may be metallic, or formed from fabric, and is secured to theupper end of the shell 11 by any suitable means, such as is indicated bythe numeral 22 in Fig. 4. The purpose of the screen 21 is to preventsolid particles from passing from the snow-chamber at this point.

Extending through the housing 13, and through the screen 21, into theupper end of the snow-chamber 12 is an inlet-means in the form of a pipe23. The inner end of the pipe 23 located in the snow-chamber 12 isprovided in the form of a nozzle 24.

That portion of the housing 13 situated above the flange 16 andenclosing the shell 11, is provided with a wall of insulation 25, theinner surface of whi :h is spaced away from the shell 11, so as toprovide a top-space 26 above the snow-chamber 12 and surrounding-space27, which surrounds the chamber 12. Q

The surrounding-space 27 is provided with horizontal bafiles 28, whichextend around three sides of the shell 11, thus providing openin s 28awhich connect together the spaces ietween the rows of baflies 28. Theadjacent bafiies are arranged to open at opposite ends, and the spacesbetween the baflies are connected to each other at opposite ends by theopenings 28a. Connected to the topspace 26 is an outlet pipe 29 of theinvention. The top-space 26, and the outlet pipe 29, comprise theoutlet-means of our invention.

The lower portion of the housing 13 is designed to provide astorage-chamber 31. The storage-chamber 31, as will be seen, is directlybelow the snow-chamber 12, and may communicate therewith by means of thesnowchamber-opening 18.

For the purpose of closing the snow-chamber-opening 18 during the timethat snow is being formed in the snow-chamber 12, we provide asnow-chamber door 32. The snowchamber door 32 swings on pivots 33.

As shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, the pivots 33 of the invention areconstructed as follows: Each pivot includes a U-shaped bracket providinga pair of extending arms 35. The extending arms 35 have openings 36 inwhich trunnions 37 of a pivot-member 38 are extended. The pivot-member38 of each pivot 33 has an opening through which one of the bolts 17extends. Threadedly secured on the bolt 17 above and below thepivot-member 38 are adjustment nuts 39. The adjustment nuts 39 may bemoved upward or downward to regulate the horizontal plane in which thepivoting axis of the pivots 33 is located.

The support-plate 14 carries a rectangular seat 40, which surrounds thesnow-chamberopening 18. The lower portion of the rectangular seat 40extends below the lower face of the support-plate 14. Adapted to engagethe seat 40 is an engaging-member 41. The seat 40 and theengaging-member 41 are preferably formed of rubber or rubbercomposition.

The snow-chamber door 32 swin s between the position shown by full linesin ig. 1, and the position indicated by dotted lines 45 of the samefigure. It will be seen that the snow-chamber door is located in thestoragechamber 31 consequently snow-chamber door operating means must beprovided for controlling the operation thereof. Our invention providesthis means in the following construction.

Extending into the storage-chamber 31 is a shaft 54 which is journaledin bearings 55. Rigidly secured to the shaft 54 inside the storagechamber 31 is a crank 53 which carries a turn-buckle 49 so that itslength is adjustable. The crank 53 carries a pivot 30, on which thelower end of a link 34 is pivoted. The upper end of the link 34 ispivotally attached by a pivot 42 to the lower face of the snow-chamberdoor 32. One end of the shaft 54 projects to the exterior of the device,and has an operating crank 43 connected thereto. The operating crank 43may be operated to swing the snow-chamber door 32 from closed positioninto open position, and vice versa. When the door is in open position,this position being indicated by dotted lines 45 of Fig. 1, the doorengages a stop provided in the form of a block 44 in the lower back partof the storage-chamber 31.

The storage-chamber 31 has a storagechamber-opening 46, which is closedby a storage-chamber door 47. The storage-chamber door 47, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, is

hinged to the housing 13 by suitable hinges 48. It will be noted thatthe storage-cham-- ber door 47 does not have a sealing gasket. Thesealing gasket on this door has purposely been left oil in order that nopressure can be maintained in the storage-chamber 31. This is adesirable feature, in view of the fact that an accumulation of pressurein the storage chamber 31 might cause damage or injury when thestorage-chamber door 47 is opened.

We shall now describe the operation of our invention. When it is desiredto form carbon-dioxide snow in the snow-chamber 12, the snow-chamberdoor 32 must be in closed position. Liquid carbon dioxide is passedthrough the pipe 23, and is sprayed into the snow-chamber 12 by means ofthe nozzle 24. When the liquid carbon dioxide is released into thesnow-chamber, part of the liquid carbon dioxide will freeze and form asnow. This snow will collect in a body, as indicated by the numeral 50,in the bottom of the snowchamber 12. The carbon-dioxide gas in thesnow-chamber 12 will pass upward and through the screen 21. There is atendency for the gas to carry solid particles, and to prevent the solidparticles from passing into the outlet-means of the invention we providethe screen 21. This screen 21 is of fine enough mesh to prevent solidparticles from passing therethrough, but is of course enough mesh not toimpede the flow of carbon-dioxide gas from the snow-chamber 12. Thecarbon-dioxide gas passes into the top-space 26 and through the outletpipe 29.

The carbon-dioxide gas being heavier than air will displace the air andfill the surrounding space 27. Carbon-dioxide gas is a very goodinsulator, and will therefore exclude heat from the snow-chamber. Thebaflles 28 are provided to prevent circulation of carbondioxide gas inthe surrounding space 27 After a batch of carbon-dioxide snow has beenformed, such as is indicated by the numeral 50, the snow-chamber door 32is moved to the open position as indicated by dotted lines 45, in orderto permit the body of snow to drop into the storage-chamber 31. In viewof the fact that the shell 11 is pyramidal, the body of snow 50 will notclog in the snow-chamber 12. lVhen the door is opened, the snow willfall into the bottom of the snowchamber 31, as indicated by the numeral52. When the snow-chamber door 32 is opened it is desirable to have thestorage-chamber door 47 closed in order to prevent an escape ofcarbon-dioxide gas through the storage-chamber 31.

The snow-chamber door 32 is then again closed, and a new batch ofcarbon-dioxide snow may be formed. It is possible to transfer the snowfrom the snow-chamber 12 to the store e-chamber 31, either with orwithout shutting off the supply of carbon dioxide thronghr the pipe 23.When it is desired to remove snow' from the storage-chamber 31, thestorage-chamber door 47 may be opened, which gives access to theinterior, and permits a removal of the snow 52. Access may be had to thestorage-chamber 31 while carbon-di-' oxide snow is being formed .in thesnowchamber 12. The only time at which the carbon-dioxide snow shouldnot be removed from the storage-chamber 31 is during the transferringofthe carbon-dioxide snow from the snow-chamber 12 to the storagechamber31.

In order that a tight seal be maintained between the snow-chamber 12 andthe storagechamber 31, it is necessary that the engagingmember 41properly engage the seat 40. The pivoting axis for the door 32 musttherefore be in such a plane that when the door is in closed position,the engagement of the parts 40 and 41 adjacent to the pivoting-axis andremote from the pivoting-axis, occurs at the same time. If the pivotingaxis is too high, the adjacent portions of the members 40 and 41 willcome into contact before the remote portions; and if the pivoting axisis too low, the remote portions 40 and41 will come into contact beforethe adjacent portions. The adjustable feature of the pivots of ourinvention permits the pivoting-axis to be placed in such a plane thatthere will be a proper engagement between the parts 40 and 41 when thesnow-chamber door 32 is closed. In order that the pressure of engagementbetween the parts 40 and 41 be sufficient, even when the pivoting-axishas been moved up or down,

we provide a turn-buckle 49 for regulating the length of the lever 57.When the pivotingaxis is moved up, the lever 57 is lengthened so that aproper pressure may be applied'to the snow-chamber door 32.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that our invention makesit possible to continuously form carbon-dioxide snow, and to practicallycontinuously remove this snow from the storage-chamber 31.

One of the important features of the invention, as pointed outheretofore, is the provision of the snow-chamber and the storagechamberseparated by the snow-chamberopening, which snow-chamber-opening isclosed by the snow-chamber door 32. It is this construction that permitstheimportant object of the invention to be accomplished, which isnamely, a continuous production and efficient operation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that no air can enter thesnow-chamber 12,'in view of the fact that the snow-chamber 12 is neveropened to the atmosphere. For this reason no pollution of the carbondioxide can occur, and the efficiency of operation of the apparatus willbe maintained.

Another important object of the invention,

as we have pointed out heretofore, is the pre venting of-an excess ofpressure in the storage-chamber 31. As we have previously pointed out,this is accomplished by forming a very tight seal for the opening of thesnowchamber 12, and forming a less tight seal for the opening of thestorage-chamber 31.

The provision of the surrounding space 27, which is filled withcarbon-dioxide gas to form an insulation for the s'now-chamber-12, isimportant to the invention. The baflles 28 prevent circulation of thecarbon-dioxide gas in the surrounding space 27, and this is a desirablefeature.

The carbon-dioxide gas, when it leaves the top of the snow-chamber 12,is at a higher temperature than the carbon-dioxide snow that is formedtherein. If there were an active circulation of carbon-dioxide gasthrough the surrounding space 27 heat would be transferred to thesnow-chamber by convection. In our invention convection is entirelyavoided, and due to the fact that heat conduction qualities of thecarbon-dioxide gas are very low, the temperature in the snow-chamber 12will be maintained at a minimum.

The feature of the means for regulating the snow-chamber door 32 isimportant to the invention, since it makes it possible to at all timesmaintain a tight seal. During the op eration of the device-the seat 40,andthe engaging member 41, are bound to wear, but in our invention thiswear may be readily compensated for by adjusting the lever 57. I

-We claim as our invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forminga snow-chamber; an inlet-means for said snow-chamber; an outlet-meansfor said snow-chamber; walls forming a storage-chamber adjacent to saidsnow-chamber; and a snow-chamber door for closing an opening connectinsaid snowchamber and said storage-chem er. I

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forminga snow-chamher; an inlet-means for said snow-chamber;

an outlet-means for said snow-chamber; walls forming a storage-chamberadjacent to said snow-chamber a snow-chamber door for closing an openingconnecting said snow-chamber and said storage-chamber, said snow-chamberdoor being swingable into said storagechamber; and a storage-chamberdoor for said storage-chamber.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forminga snow-chamher, said snow-chamber having a snow-chamber-opening at itslower end; Walls forming a storage-chamber below said snow-chamber, saidsnow-chamber-opening communicating with said storage-chamber;inlet-means for introducing liquid carbon dioxide into said snow-chamberin order to form carbon-dioxide snow; outlet-means through whichcarbon-dioxide gas passes from said snowchamber; a snow-chamber door forclosing said snoW-chamber-opening; door-operating means for operatingsaid door; and a storagechamber door for closing astorage-chamberopening of said storage-chamber, said storage-chamberdoor being arranged so that it will not hold as much pressure as saidsnowchamber door.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of: Walls forminga snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snowforming medium intosaid snow-forming chamber; walls forming an insulation space around saidsnow-forming chamber; and outlet means for said snow-forming chamber,said outlet means being in such communication with said insulation spacewhereby gas resulting from said medium will fill said insulation spaceand will not circulate through said insulation space when saidinsulation space has been filled.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forminga snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snowforming medium intosaid snow-forming chamber; walls forming an insulation space around saidsnow-forming chamber; and outlet means for said snow-forming chamber,said outlet means being in such communication with the upper end of saidinsulation space whereby gas resulting from said medium will fill saidinsulation space and will not circulate through said insulation spacewhen said insulation space has been filled.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls formina snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snow forming medium intosaid snow-forming chamber; walls forming an insulation space around saidsnow-forming chamber; outlet means for said snow-forming chamber, saidoutlet means being in such communication with the upper end of saidinsulation space whereby gas resulting from said medium will fill saidinsulation space and will not circulate through said insulation spacewhen said insulation space has been filled; and circulation restrainingbafiies in said insulation space.

7. A process of making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: expanding liquidcarbondioxide in a substantially air-tight chamber to formcarbon-dioxide snow; opening said first chamber and delivering saidcarbondioxide snow to a second closed chamber without contacting saidsnow with the atmosphere; and closing said first chamber from saidsecond chamber so that said second chamber may be opened to theatmosphere Without any atmosphere entering said first cham* her.

8. A process of making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: continuouslyexpanding liquid carbon-dioxide in a substantially airtight closedchamber to form carbon-dioxide snow; opening said first chamber anddelivering said carbon-dioxide snow to a second closed chamber withoutcontacting said snow with the atmosphere; and closing said first chamberfrom said second. chamber so that said snow-forming operation may beperformed Without interference, and so that said second chamber may beopened to the at mosphere without any atmosphere entering said firstchamber.

9. A process of making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: expanding liquidcarbondioxide in a closed chamber to form carbondioxide snow; openingsaid first chamber and delivering said carbon-dioxide snow to a secondclosed chamber of less pressure than said first chamber withoutcontacting said snow with the atmosphere; and closing said first chamberfrom said second chamber so that said second chamber may be opened tothe atmosphere without any atmosphere entering said first chamber.

10. A process for making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: expandingliquid carbondioxide in a chamber to form carbon-dioxide snow;withdrawing carbon-dioxide gas from said chamber; surrounding saidchamber with a portion of the withdrawn gas; and preventing circulationof the gas surrounding said chamber.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of: structureproviding a substantially air-tight snow-forming chamber; means forintroducing a snow-forming medium to said chamber; gas outlet meansconnected to said chamber; a second chamber in communication with saidsnow-forming a chamber, so that the snow may be introduced into saidsecond chamber without contact with the atmosphere; and means forclosing the communication between said snow-forming chamber and saidsecond chamber.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a structureproviding a substantially. air-tight snow-forming chamber; means forintroducing a snow-forming medium to said chamber; gas outlet meansconnected to said chamber; a second chamber below said snow-formingchamber and in communication with said snow-forming chamber, so that thesnow may be introduced into said second chamber without contact withtheatmosphere; and means for closing the communication between saidsnow-forming chamber and said second chamber.

13. In a device of the class described, the

combination of: structure providing a substantially air-tightsnow-forming chamber, means for introducing a snow-forming medium tosaidchamber; gas outlet means con.- nected to said chamber; a secondchamber below said snow-forming chamber and in communication with saidsnow-forming chamber, so that the snow may be introduced into saidsecond chamber without contact with the atmosphere; and means forclosing the communication between said snow-forming chamber and saidsecond chamber, said means supporting said snow in said snowformingchamber when in closing position and permitting said snow to fallintosaid second chamber when in non-closing position. Y

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles,California, this 11th day of June, 1928. v

40 g DAVID A. MARCUS.

WALTER W. OGIER, JR.

